Wig form and carrying case therefor

ABSTRACT

A wig form which can be used to hold a wig for styling and transport which makes use of its internal cavity for supporting and transporting a second wig or wiglet or hair piece and a carrying case for the wig form which rigidly and securely locks the wig form in place within the case when the case is closed and which releases the wig form for ready removal when the case is opened.

[451 Apr. 25, 1972 United States Patent Friedman MX 00 0 2V "0 2 mm am am See m W0 69 66 99 11 24 1 32 200 91 004 33 [54] WIG FORM AND CARRYING CASE THEREFOR [72] Inventor: Morris Friedman, Fort Lee, NJ. Primary Examiner joseph RI Leela Assistant Examiner-John M. Caskie [73] Assignee: Blockhead, Inc., New York, NY.

Aug. 13, 1969 Atlorney-Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A wig form which can be used to hold a wig for styling and transport which makes use of its internal cavity for supporting and transporting a second wig or wiglet or hair piece and a [2]] Appl. No.:

carrying case for the wig form which rigidly and securely locks the wig form in place within the case when the case is closed [52] US. Cl...

and which releases the wig form for ready removal when the case is opened.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McKay ..................l ...........206/45.l3 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented A ril 25, 1912 3,658,174

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I,\VI','\ )If. MORRIS FRIEDMAN Patented April 25, 1972 3,658,174

2 Sheets-Shut 3 IN Id Ii. A; G. 6 MORRIS F RIE D MZXII WIG FORM AND CARRYING CASE THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wig forms and carrying cases are well known in the art. Wig forms are generally quite bulky as they must be of a size to simulate the human head and thus occupy substantial space. The wig forms are generally fabricated of expanded plastic and thus are generally solid, whereby there can be no utilization of the space occupied by the expanded wig form.

Wig forms generally have a tapered bore in the base for accommodating a tapered spindle and the wig forms are often mounted in a carrying case on a spindle within the case. However, the cases generally open from the top and it is often necessary to disturb the hair of the wig to remove the wig form and wig from the carrying case.

Many carrying cases provide for loosely mounting the wig form in the case, whereby, during transportation, the wig form and wig moves about the inside of the case during transportation, which can be especially damaging to the set of the hair of the wig. In other prior art cases, means are provided for clamping the wig form in the case but such means are generally unnecessarily complex and require a separate operation for clamping and removing the wig form when the case is opened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a hollow wig form is provided for cooperation with a carrying case which opens along a vertical plane so that the wig form can be inserted and removed without disturbing the wig on the wig form. Cooperating channels are provided in the carrying case to closely receive the base of the wig form to properly position the wig form with respect to the carrying case and to lock the wig form in the selected position when the case is closed. The wig form receiving members are so constructed and arranged that the wig form is locked in position on closing of the case and is released for ready removal when the case is opened.

The wig form has an expanded plastic cap for mounting a wig thereon and the cap is removable to permit access to the interior thereof. An expanded plastic block is located within the hollow wig form so that a second hair piece may be mounted within the hollow wig form to provide for maximum use of the interior as well as the exterior of the wig form.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a carrying case and wig form of improved construction, whereby the wig form is fixedly mounted within the carrying case when the carrying case is closed and is released for ready removal when the carrying case is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wig form of improved construction which permits maximum use of the wig form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wig form of improved construction which can accommodate two hair pieces. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wig form which is hollow for the mounting of a hair piece interiorly of the external surface of the wig form and for the mounting of a second hair piece about the exterior surface of the wig form.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig form and carrying case constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, showing the carrying case in open position and the wig form removed from the case;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying case after the wig form has been mounted therein and the carrying case has been closed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Carrying case 11 is formed as a boxlike member having a relatively deep shell 12 and a relatively shallow cover 13, with the cover being hinged to the shell by suitable hinges (not shown) whereby the carrying case opens along a substantially vertical plane. A suitable latch 14 is provided for releasably securing the cover in closed position with respect to the shell. A handle 15 is secured to the top of shell 12 for carrying the case. Cover 13 is provided with a lip 16 extending around the circumferential edge of the cover for overlapping engagement with the edge of shell 12 in order that the case will be substantially dustproof when closed. The bottom of shell 12 is provided with ridges 17 which extend downwardly an amount at least as great as lip 16 to provide flat surfaces for standing the carrying case.

The wig form includes a rectangular base member 21 on which the wig form stands when removed from the case. A pair of upstanding guides 22 extend upwardly from the inside bottom surface of shell 12 to receive therebetween base member 21. Extending normal to each guide 22 is a lip 23 with the lips facing one another to form, with the guides 22, a pair of spaced, facing L-shaped members for engagement with opposite edges of base member 21. Lips 23 are preferably tapered as shown in FIG. 5 for ease of insertion of base member 21. Each of the L-shaped members is provided with a stop 24 against which base member 21 engages to limit the insertion of base member 21 into shell 12.

With base member 21 located in the tracks defined by guides 22 and lips 23, the base member is secured against movement in five directions, with the base member being movable in the sixth direction only to withdraw the base member from shell 12. An overarm 25 is located on the lower internal surface of cover 13 and is provided with a vertical abutment surface 26 and a forwardly and upwardly tapering projection 27. As is apparent from FIG. 3, movement of the cover to the closed position causes the overarm to closely engage an edge of base member 21 to securely hold the base member against movement in the sixth direction when the cover is latched in the closed position. On opening of the cover, the overarm moves out of engagement with base member 21 to permit the base member to be withdrawn from the shell.

Thus, without the use of any separately operable securing means, the base member is rigidly held in position in the carrying case when the carrying case is closed and is automatically released for removal when the carrying case is opened.

The central portion 31 of base member 21 has the general configuration of a truncated cone surrounding an inner horizontal wall 32 from which extends upwardly a tapered post 33. Post 33 is provided with a pair of outwardly extending ears 29 which are spaced from inner wall 32. A hollow form 34 has the general configuration of a human head below the hairline merging into a neck, with the terminus of the neck formed with a horizontal wall 35 configured for close engagement with inner wall 32. An opening 36 is provided in wall 35 to permit hollow form 34 to be mounted over post 33 and over ears 29 so that the hollow form may be fitted onto base member 21 and slightly rotated to lock the two elements in as sembled position.

A dome-shaped expanded plastic block 37 is mounted over post 33 within hollow form 34 and a hair piece 38 may be removably mounted on block 37.

The open end of form 34 defines an upper edge 39 to cooperate with a cap which will now be described. The cap is indicated generally at 41 and includes a relatively rigid annular member 42 having an outwardly extending lip 43. Annular member 42 is configured so as to be closely received within hollow form 34 with lip 43 being positionable into engagement with upper edge 39 to limit the insertion of the cap into the hollow form. Secured to annular member 42 is a dome-shaped expanded plastic block 44 which provides a surface for mounting a hair piece 45 thereon. Blocks 44 and 37 are formed of expanded plastic so that pins can be inserted therein through the hair pieces to hold the hair pieces in position on the blocks.

Cap 41 is formed of the assembly of annular member 42 and block 44 and is readily removable to permit access to the interior of hollow form 34, With cap 41 in place, the wig form is similar to the standard known types of wig forms which can have a wig mounted thereon for properly supporting the wig during styling and during transportation and storage. However, by providing a removable cap and a hollow head form, complete use of the interior of the head form is provided for. In the embodiment disclosed, an expanded plastic block is located within the interior of the hollow head form so that a second hair piece may be mounted thereon for storage and transportation. If desired, the interior of the hollow head form could be used to store brushes, combs, etc., and suitable storage pockets could be provided if desired.

It is preferred that tapered post 33 have a hollow interior so that the wig form, when removed from the case, can be mounted on a working post of the usual type to hold the form fixed while the wig thereon is being styled or otherwise worked on. In this manner, the wig form of the instant invention is consistent and compatible with the techniques and equipment commonly used in this art.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit .and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said first capturing means includes a bottom wall on said shell and a pair of L-shaped members extending upwardly from said bottom wall, the longitudinal axis of each L-shaped member extending perpendicularly to the plane of said open side of said shell, said L-shaped members being spaced, one from the other, and facing each other in a transverse direction, whereby to define a pair of guides for receiving said base member.

2, A wig form and carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base element of each L-shaped member which extends toward the other L-shaped member is tapered in the longitudinal direction.

37 A wig form and carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second capturing means includes an overarm extending outwardly from said cover toward said open side thereof, said cover having a bottom wall, said overarm having a downwardly facing surface spaced from said bottom wall,

whereby to receive a portion of said base member between said bottom wall and said downwardly facing surface when said cover is in closed condition.

4. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said second capturing means includes an overarm extending outwardly from said cover toward said open side thereof, said cover having a bottom wall, said overarm having a downwardly facing surface spaced from said bottom wall, whereby to receive a portion of said base member between said bottom wall and said downwardly facing surface when said cover is in closed condition.

5. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said first capturing means includes opposed groove defining members, said shell having means defining a bottom support, said groove defining members cooperating with said means defining said bottom support for receiving and supporting said base member in said shell. 

1. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said first capturing means includes a bottom wall on said shell and a pair of L-shaped members extending upwardly from said bottom wall, the longitudinal axis of each LshapEd member extending perpendicularly to the plane of said open side of said shell, said L-shaped members being spaced, one from the other, and facing each other in a transverse direction, whereby to define a pair of guides for receiving said base member.
 2. A wig form and carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base element of each L-shaped member which extends toward the other L-shaped member is tapered in the longitudinal direction.
 3. A wig form and carrying case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second capturing means includes an overarm extending outwardly from said cover toward said open side thereof, said cover having a bottom wall, said overarm having a downwardly facing surface spaced from said bottom wall, whereby to receive a portion of said base member between said bottom wall and said downwardly facing surface when said cover is in closed condition.
 4. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said second capturing means includes an overarm extending outwardly from said cover toward said open side thereof, said cover having a bottom wall, said overarm having a downwardly facing surface spaced from said bottom wall, whereby to receive a portion of said base member between said bottom wall and said downwardly facing surface when said cover is in closed condition.
 5. A wig form and carrying case comprising a shell having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, a cover having an open side in a substantially vertical plane, closure means for securing said shell and cover in closed position to form a closed case, a base member removable from said case, first capturing means in said shell for releasably securing said base member against movement in all directions except outwardly through the open side of said shell and second capturing means in said cover for engagement with said base member in the closed position of said cover for securing said base member against said outward movement, wherein said first capturing means includes opposed groove defining members, said shell having means defining a bottom support, said groove defining members cooperating with said means defining said bottom support for receiving and supporting said base member in said shell. 